Playing Through the Arts, Performing Arts Rotation - Ongoing

The arts are a great tool to help children build self-confidence and self-awareness in an non intimidating way. The arts give children a way to express their creativity and imagination. This class will allow learners to explore different avenues of self expression through the arts. We will use dance (mainly hip hop), theatre games and exercises, and basic musical instruments to play and learn. We'll also do arts and crafts projects. I'll sometimes use brief video clips to share new concepts. This class offers a combination of my most popular classes in an ongoing setting so learners can grow together in a supportive community of friends. 

Learners will not need any special instruments for this class. Music can be made from our own bodies as well as found objects. Homemade instruments will work and we will even have classes throughout the series where we make instruments that can be used in class. This class is for children who are outgoing as well as children who need to build self confidence. Learners will be encouraged but not forced to participate. 

Class Outline: 
* Introductions  and Brief Share Time - This will give learners a chance to work on their public speaking as well as group listening skills. 
* Class Focus - Either dance, music, theatre and/or craft 
* Story Time - We may sometimes read a book pertaining to the subject or activity covered in class. 
* Wrap Up - Learners who may have had a hard time opening up will get another chance to do their thing. This will also be a time to prepare for the following class. 

Please Note: 

* Class run time is dependent on attendance and participation of the learners. Classes may run over a few minutes to give learners a chance to have the fullest interaction possible with each other and their art. If you need to leave at any point due to your schedule, please feel free. 

* To create the best opportunity for meaningful social interaction, the class minimum of 4 learners will be adhered to. If the minimum isn't met before the first week of class, the schedule will be pushed back a week or the class may be cancelled. 

Weekly Class Focus:
2/7 - Who are you and How are you feeling? We'll create a Self Portrait using whatever medium you choose including found objects. 

2/14 - What is music? - We'll read music Is by Brandon Stosuy, and talk about the different ways that we can create music using our bodies. If time permits, we'll also discuss different genres of music. 

2/21 - Can you Make an Instrument? - We'll use found and recycled objects to create our own musical instruments.

2/28 - What is rhythm and tempo? - We'll play around with tempo to explore how different rhythms make us move. Children are invited to bring instruments that they have or have made for this class. 

3/7 - What is Dance? -  We'll view and discuss different types of dance. I'll play various music genres and we'll explore the way our bodies move to the different music.

3/14 -  Making 3D self portraits with "unconventional" objects - In this class, learners can use things like string, buttons, cheerios, crumpled paper, shredded paper, dirt, beans etc to make a self portrait. 

3/21 -   Improv Games - For this class, we will be playing improvisation games. 

3/28 - Animal Acting - We'll create animal masks, then learners will be able to wear costumes and do movement work pretending to be animals.

***** If class attendance is high, we will continue the session after 3/28 with the following schedule. *******

4/4 - How can we tell a story? - We'll use madlibs and/or story dice to create our own story together. 

4/11 -  Puppets - Learners will make puppets using items that they have at home. We will create voices and characters for our puppets together. 

4/18 - Make a song - We will work together to make and play a song using the instruments that we created in a previous class. 

*Class focus may change depending on the flow and needs of the learners. I will update the class focus list if any changes will be made.